Hasty Brook is the loveliest place in my world. It's a little piece of heaven in northern Minnesota.

Thursday, September 18, 2008

Mystery Bird Number Three, or Why It's Good to Have More Than One Field Guide or Better Yet- a Friend Who's Really, Really Good

Here's yet another warbler that I couldn't identify without help. I scoured my two favorite field guides- Peterson (fifth edition) and Stokes Field Guide to Warblers and couldn't find anything to fit this bird. That gray neck band wasn't anywhere. So, once again I asked Hap in New Hope for help.

Gracious as ever, Hap referred me to the big Sibley Guide to Birds and sure enough, there it was! Can you find it?

Lynne, I took your challenge and I believe it is a Magnolia Warbler. What a sighting! My warbler life-list is sorely lacking. How wonderful that your get to add this little guy! The use of field guides has been a popular subject lately. I currently have 3 sitting on the desk next to the computer. I use them all!

You are right, Lynne, I find more than one field guide is essential. For people who don't HAP-pen to have a well-versed birding buddy to help with warblers, I recommend Stokes' Field Guide to Warblers. (Carolyn: "HAP-less?" LOL!!)

While I usually prefer art to photographs for IDs, the photos in this guide are remarkably well-done. The Stokes' devote two pages to each species, one with words and maps, and one with pictures. There are different photos of adult male and female, juvenile, and fall plumages.

One of my favorite features is the line-drawing of the underside of each species. Face it, sometimes all you see of a warbler is its butt. In our maggie, Lynne has a great view of the white undertail coverts and the tail, which is white on the front half and black on the back half. That's all you need to ID this warbler. (Of course, the yellow flanks with black streaking helps!)

Hi Lynne,Isn't it nice to have a bird expert as a friend? My friend John helped me confirm that what I saw last weekend was a Connecticut warbler and not a Mourning (like I originally thought).I can't remember....have you ever birded with Hap in person?

It's a good thing that you and I have Hap for all his help. We have both been using him alot lately. Good pictures. Fall colors on birds are starting to drive me right up the wall. What was easy to ID in the spring has turned into a real challenge this fall.

Lynne,I just went into your archives to find when & where you went to see the migrating sandhill cranes last year. After I viewed your wonderful posts and then googled Crex Meadows, I was surprised that they used your quote from your bog on their home page on a wonderful photo. How neat!! We look forward to spending a weekend there soon!

I'm going with Magnolia Warbler too, but then I only have the Peterson's and the Smithsonian to go by. I will be looking into that Sibley's Warbler guide, something I could use in the spring and fall around here.Have you been to Birdpost.com?I just started my lifelist there.I'm sure they would love to have some of your pictures there ~ you are an amazing avian photographer?

I wasn't sure what an immature Magnolia looked like but that was my first insinct when I saw the streakig and the color of the breast-good to know my first instincts are right some of the time.-I'm getting envious of your warbler photos-I don't usually have that kind of luck with them.-You seem to have a knack for capturing them on film.